# How Our Free Income Restricted Apartment Locator Works | Income Restricted Apartments > Qualification, pre-screening, waitlist coordination, and fee rebate. Communities pay us, never you. Your rent stays the same. URL: https://incomerestrictedapartments.com/guide/how-our-free-locator-service-works/ Last-Modified: 2026-06-14 ![Texas locator on the phone matching a renter to income restricted apartments](/images/misc/texas-locator-on-phone-matching-renter-to-income-r.webp) ## The Skeptic’s Question “How is this free?” is usually the first thing people ask. The short version: apartment communities pay us referral fees from their marketing budgets. Every leasing office already spends money to fill vacancies (listing platforms, ads, staff time). When we place a qualified resident, they pay us instead. Your rent doesn’t change and you owe us nothing. ## The Five-Step Path **1\. Intake.** You submit a 5-minute form with metro, household size, income, voucher status, and any screening context. Free. **2\. Qualification check.** We match your numbers to current HUD/TDHCA AMI limits and tell you which tiers and programs fit. **3\. Pre-screening.** We compare your credit, background, and rental history to each candidate community’s tenant selection plan before you spend a non-refundable application fee. **4\. Matching.** Within 24-48 hours you get a shortlist of open, qualifying communities. We coordinate applications and follow up. **5\. Lease-up and fee rebate.** When you’re approved and sign a lease through our service, we rebate your application fee. ![Numbered 5-step process from intake to move-in](/images/misc/numbered-5-step-process-intake-to-move-in-income-r.webp) ## What We Handle That You’d Otherwise Do Yourself - Cross-checking AMI limits against your metro and household - Reading each community’s tenant selection plan - Calling leasing offices to confirm which are actually open - Filtering out closed waitlists and communities that quietly decline vouchers - Coordinating Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) for voucher holders - Following up on stalled applications - Tracking Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections - Managing multiple parallel applications so you’re not stuck on one waitlist ## What This Doesn’t Change - **Your rent** is identical to applying directly - **Program rules** apply the same way (income cap, program eligibility, screening) - **The community’s final decision** on your application ## Why Licensed Matters We hold TREC License #679806, brokered under Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC. That means TREC regulates our conduct, and if we ever mistreat you there’s a state agency with jurisdiction. Unlicensed lead-gen sites and directories don’t have that accountability. Verify us any time: How to Verify Our TREC License [/guide/how-to-verify-our-trec-license/ →](/guide/how-to-verify-our-trec-license/) . ## Related Reading - How to Verify Our TREC License [/guide/how-to-verify-our-trec-license/ →](/guide/how-to-verify-our-trec-license/) - How to Qualify for Income Restricted Apartments [/guide/how-to-qualify-for-income-restricted-apartments/ →](/guide/how-to-qualify-for-income-restricted-apartments/) - How to Spot Housing Scams [/guide/how-to-spot-income-restricted-housing-scams/ →](/guide/how-to-spot-income-restricted-housing-scams/) Start the free intake [/contact/ →](/contact/) . ## Frequently Asked Questions How is this free for me? + Apartment communities pay us a referral fee from their marketing budgets when we place a qualified resident. That fee is baked into their cost of doing business. Your rent is identical whether you use us or apply directly to the leasing office. What is the application fee rebate? + When you're approved and sign a lease at a community through our service, we rebate the application fee you paid to that community. Real dollars back to you, per our summer 2026 rebate policy. How long does the match take? + Intake is about 5 minutes. First matches usually go out within 24-48 hours. Actual placement depends on your metro and available inventory. ## Related Guides ### 2026 Income Limits & AMI Tables by Texas Metro and Household Size 2026 AMI income limits (30/50/60/80%) for affordable apartments by Texas metro and household size. Updated annually from HUD/TDHCA. [2026 Income Limits & AMI Tables by Texas Metro and Household Size →](/guide/2026-income-limits-ami-tables-by-metro-household-size/) ### Accessible & Disability Income Restricted Housing Need an ADA-accessible affordable unit? Accessible set-asides, reasonable accommodations, and how we match you to disability-friendly communities. [Accessible & Disability Income Restricted Housing →](/guide/accessible-disability-income-restricted-housing/) ### Family (2-3 Bedroom) Income Restricted Apartments Need a larger income restricted unit? Occupancy rules, how bedroom count affects AMI, and waitlist realities for 2-3 bedroom units. [Family (2-3 Bedroom) Income Restricted Apartments →](/guide/family-2-3-bedroom-income-restricted-apartments/) ### Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) Explained A Housing Choice Voucher helps pay rent at accepting properties. What HCV is, how to get one from your PHA, portability, and how we help. [Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) Explained →](/guide/housing-choice-vouchers-hcv-explained/) ![](/images/misc/texas-income-restricted-apartment-community-family.webp) Free · No Application Fees Wasted ## Want a Match, Not Just Info? Start the free 5-minute intake. Licensed Texas team, matches within 24-48 hours, application fee rebate on approval. See If I Qualify [/contact/ →](/contact/) Read More Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/)